Mills expresses support for LSE African Initiative Programme

From Benjamin Mensah, GNA Special Correspondent, London

London, May 8, GNA - With a feeling of nostalgia and joy, President John Evans Atta Mills on Friday visited the London School of Economics, his alma mater, and promised to support the African Initiative Programme being run by the School.

He expressed gratitude to the University, where he schooled between 1967 and 1968 for a post-graduate programme, and pledged to throw his weight behind the African Initiative for the benefits it would yield to the development of African human resource.

"It is nice to be back home, it evolves a feeling of nostalgia," the President said, as he reminisced his days at the School, where he said, the regular sight of students lining up for demonstration developed his interest in politics.

Three Ghanaian presidents - Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, Dr Hilla Liman and Professor Mills - are on record to have attended the LSE. He expressed his gratitude for the training he acquired saying; "I'm proud to be associated with the LSE", as he interacted with students, lecturers and researchers. According to President Mills, who is also a Professor at Law, he attended the School at a time when the Government and the University of Ghana decided to push for higher education. He said a number of Ghanaians now in prominent positions attended LSE.

Records at the LSE show that 270 Ghanaians studied at the School, said Peter Sutherland, Chairman of the Court of Governors of the LSE, who welcomed President Mills to the LSE. He commended President Mills for his distinguished academic career and said President Mills had come at a time when LSE had embarked on a development programme and called on African leaders to support the Initiative. President Mills ends his three-day official visit to the UK on Friday.